Fuse



Oct. 9, 1928.

A. G. STEINMAYER FUSE Filed Aug. 19, 1927 .Patented Oct.` 9, 1928.

\ UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

ALWIN' G. STEINMAYER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,

ASSIGNOR TO LINE MATERIAL -(IOMIEANY, 0F SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

FUSE.

Application led August 19, 1927. Serial No. 214,122.

This uinvention relates to fuses primarily designed for use wit-h high tension circults. 'Heretofore, in fuses of this type,)it has been found that when the fuse is blown the destructive arc often holds on to its contacts suliciently long to seriously damage the fuse cartridge, and this invention has as one of its objects the provision of means whereby `the forming of any destructive arc is prevented.4 U

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a fuse having an inner tube and an outer tube connected at its upper end with the inner tube at a point spaced from the adjacent end thereof, there being means adjacent this connection for expelling conductive gases accumulating within the space between the tubes.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved fuse construction of the character described, wherein the partial vacuum created by the expulsion of the gases from within the inner tube, upon rupture of the fuse element, is utilized to draw olf the conductive gases accumulated within the outer tube.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a fuse of the'character described, having a fuse element passed through an inner tube with one end doubled back on itself outwardly of the inner tube and within an outer tube which is secured at its upper end to the inner tube and in which apertures are provided adjacent the upper end to permit air to be drawn thereinto to expel conductive gas accumulation upon rup -ture of the fuse element.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description fproceeds, my invention resides in the novel' construction, combination and arrangement of partssubstantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood. that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereinr disclosed invention may be -made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated two complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the ractical a plication of the principles thereo and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an imthe tubes and is passed .and 16 to be impinged thereby upon thread# proved fuse constructed according to my invention;

Flgure 2 1s a longltudmal sectional view -taken through Figure 1 on the plane of line views, 5 designates a tube of insulating maf terial which forms the body of the fuse cartridge 'and has a contact member 6 mounted at one end thereof and a Contact member 7 mounted at a point spaced from its other end. A fuse element 8 is positioned within the tube and has its upper end suitably connected with the contact member 6 by a nut 9, its other end passing outwardlyfof the tube lower end and being bent back on itl self to be connected adjacent its extreme end 10 with the cont-act member 7, in the manner later described. The contact members 6 and 7 provide means for attaching the cartridge to terminal members, not shown, which connect the fuse within an electric circuit.

The contact member 7 has/an intermediate exteriorly threaded flange 11 receiving .a nut member 12 carrying an outer tube 13. The outer tube, whose internal diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the inner tube to provide space between the tubes, is fixed within the lower bore 14 of the nut me ber, and preferably has its lower end terminating a short distance above the end of the tube 5. That portion of the contact member 7 below the threaded fiange 11 is taperingly reduced as at 15, to cooperate with a similarly tapered bore 16 formed, in the member 12, as later described.

The lower end of the fuse element is brought upwardly throught the sptalpe lfnetwei e ween e aces ing of the nut member 12 onto the flange 11. Thus it will be readily apparent that the fuse element is Securely and electrically connected with the contact member 7.

Inasmuch as fuses of this character are used in relatively high tension circuits, the

expulsion of the gases within the tube 5, due to the rupture of the fuse element, is extremelyrapid' and produces considerable suction at the outer end of the tube 13. This suction is utilized in the present instance to withdraw the conductive gases accumulated in the space between the tubes by slotting or otherwise aperturing the flange 11, which forms the upper closure of the tube 13, as at 17. The rapid expulsion of the gases within the tube 5 and the consequent suction at the outer end of tube 13 at the time of rupture, causes air to be drawn through the slots 17, forcing the gases out of the space between the tubes.

In Figure 3, I have illustrated a slightly modified form of fuse construction in which the slots 17 are omitted and the outer tube 13 provided with a series of' openings 18 directly below the lower edge of the nut member 12.

From the foregoing description taken in connection ,with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a fuse construction wherein the accumulation of conductive gases within the space between the tubes of the fuse is prevented.

What I claim as my invention is: l

1. A fuse, comprising a tube,` contact inembers, a fuse element connected with the contact members and having a part lying without the tube, a second tube surrounding the first tube whereby the portion of the fuse element without the first tube is substantially enclosed by the second tube, rupture of the fuse element expelling the gases generated within the first tube to create a suction adjacent the end of the second tube. and means whereby the gases generated within the second tube are drawn off by the suction created within the first tube.

2. A fuse, comprising a tube of insulating material, contacts carried by the tube, a fuse element having one end connected with one of the contacts and its other end passed through the tube and brought back along the outside of the tube, means for connecting said end with the second contact, an outer tube surrounding the first-mentioned tube beyond the second Contact whereby the portion of the fuse ,element on the outside of the first tube lies within the second tube, and means whereby gases accumulated within the second tube are epelled upon rupture of the fuse element.

3. fuse, comprising a pair of tubes, a fuse element lying partially within one tube and partially within the other, whereby expulsion of the gases within one tube, due to rupture of the fuse element, causes a suction in the other tube, and means whereby the gases within the last-.mentioned tube are drawn ofl' by the suction.

4. A fuse, comprising a pair of telescoped tubes, means connecting the outer tube with the inner tube in spaced relation thereto, contacts carried by the inner tube, a fuse element lying partially within one tube and partially within the other, and having its ends connected with the contacts, rupture of the fuse element creating a suction at the outer end of the outer tube and said outer tube communieating with the atmosphere adjacent its upper end, whereby air is drawn thereinto bythe suction to expel conductive gases.

5. A fuse, comprising a tube member, contacts connected with the tube, a fuse element extending through the tube and having its ends connected with said contacts, a second tube, volatilization of the fuse generating a gas within both tubes and means whereby the rapid expansion of the gas within the` first tube causes all of the gas within the second tube to be expelled therefrom.

VIn testimony whereof I have hereunto afixed my signature.

ALW'IN G. STEINMAYER. 

